Vatican Radio: A conversation with Sydney’s new Archbishop

19/09/2014

Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP was installed as the third Bishop of Parramatta on Thursday 4 March 2010. More than 2,000 people gathered in the St Patrick’s Cathedral precinct for the Mass. Photo: Bob and Michael Armstrong

By Emer McCarthy, Vatican Radio

It’s only been one week since the Bishop of Paramatta, Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, received a visit from the Apostolic Nuncio who informed him that the Pope was appointing him to lead the nations’ ‘Mother Church’, the Archdiocese of Sydney.

In his own words, he still ‘hasn’t got over the shock’.

“As a boy, as a young man at university I used to go to Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral ... and I never would have dreamed that I would be on the other side of the altar one day, there at the cathedral,” Archbishop-elect Anthony said.

But shock aside, Pope Francis’ appointment is a homecoming for the Dominican who is a Sydney native and served as an auxiliary to the Archdiocese under Cardinal George Pell.

Cardinal Pell has since been called to Rome to head the newly established Secretariat for the Economy.